2011 Awards

The 3nd National Enterprise Educator Awards was hosted at Coventry Cathedral on the 8th September 2011.

Enterprise Educator Award

Sue Poole
Gower College Swansea

“The expansion of Enterprise Education across Swansea Bay in all education institutions from Primary to Higher Education

My main aim is to develop all aspects of entrepreneurship among students in the Swansea Bay area. This includes increasing the levels of enterprise delivery within all education establishments in the locality using the tools and resources I have at my disposal, and working with youngsters in primary schools right up to the Higher Education students aged 18+.

This is a huge remit but we have already started to see the results of the expansion of this programme with numerous successes across the region. I am looking to develop positive and proactive young people and to help them to succeed in life, whether it is setting up in business, working for an employer or helping their community.

Ultimately, it’s about giving them the confidence to come up with new ideas and the initiative and tenacity to carry them through. We need to ensure that students are positive, proactive and successful in their chosen career paths and in life.”

I am absolutely over the moon. The fact that Gower College Swansea was the only Welsh FE institution to be shortlisted is an incredible honour. I now intend to set up a bursary with the £1000 prize money which will enable students to test out their business ideas, ensuring our continued success into the future.”

Enterprise ‘Champion’ Award

Leeds College of Music, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds Trinity University College, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Bradford, University of Huddersfield, University of Hull, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, University of York, York St John University

‘The Graduate Entrepreneurship Project’

The Graduate Entrepreneurship Project is co-ordinated by the University of Huddersfield on behalf of the 11 higher education institutes in the region. It is a genuine collaboration between all the partners and has helped to create hundreds of new jobs and businesses to date. The scheme operates in each partner university and offers specialised packages of support tailored to their student population. It is able to support both existing students and those who graduated from the regions’ institutions up to seven years ago. Specific business start up advice is the most popular service that is offered by the project. However businesses can also benefit from proof-of-concept funding of up to £500 and start-up grants worth as much as £2,500. In addition, the project hosts region wide events, such as four-day entrepreneur boot camps and annual awards, recognising the region’s most promising business start ups. The Graduate Entrepreneurship project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Louise Bermingham, Project Manager, says, “It is a fantastic honour. At a time of public spending cutbacks we were still able to secure funding for three years, and this award is further recognition for our work.”

Sheila Quairney, Delivery Partner and Steering Group Member, says, “I’m really pleased that our long running partnership has been recognised at national level. The Universities in Yorkshire work hard to have a collaborative approach and to share best practice and we look forward to continuing this work for the benefit of our students and graduates and the regional economy.”

Student Educator Award

Newcastle University

‘Rise Up Student Committee’

Rise Up is the creative hub for enterprising students and graduates with entrepreneurial ventures at Newcastle University. The Rise Up student interns uphold the enterprise agenda through help, advice and activity informed by students for students. The Rise Up student committee comprises of students from the Rise Up interns, SIFE, and the Entrepreneur Society, Working collaboratively we can achieve greater impact and reach across the student population, whilst ensuring a cohesive approach to the enterprise and entrepreneurship agenda. Working collaboratively on events, campus activity and within the curriculum, the student committee has increased student enterprise and entrepreneurship activity through peer led engagement.

The Committee says,“We are so delighted with this award. The Rise Up Student Committee has worked hard to create an active community of enterprising students on campus. We are really pleased with what we’ve achieved in our first year, and are excited about the future… watch this space!”